Storm panel locking device

• US 9,027,280 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tammy Lee Huddleston
• Original Assignee: Tammy Lee Huddleston
• Inventors: Huddleston, Tammy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): STRIMBU, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US13/898,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20140338263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 494/63, 49/50, 49/57, 49/61, 49/62, 522/02, 522/03, 292/259.R, 292/262, 292/263, 292/265, 292/DIG.60
• US Class Current: 49/62
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/003 Locking bars, cross bars, security bars for sliding wings E05B65/0888; for a plurality of drawers E05B65/467
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 21/00 Arrangements or combinations of wing fastening, securing, or holding devices, not covered by a single preceding main group; Locking kits
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/005 Storm panels; hurricane shutters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures

Abstract

A universal locking device for securing flat or corrugated hurricane storm panels in place to avoid unauthorized removal and entry into a building. The locking device includes a combination of brackets removably secured between the building and the storm panels, and an adjustable locking bar locking these elements securely together.

Claims

1. A universal locking device for hurricane shutters comprising two end brackets adapted to be attached to an exterior wall of a building structure on opposite sides of an opening therein, each said end bracket having an opening therethrough;

at least one V-shaped bracket adapted to fit within and attach to a corrugation of a corrugated hurricane shutter panel, each said at least one V-shaped bracket having openings extending through two angled portions of said at least one V-shaped bracket; and

an elongated locking bar adapted to pass through said openings of said two end brackets and said openings of said at least one V-shaped bracket, and having a distal end and an opposite tong end, wherein said distal end having a stop portion thereon, and said tong end having at least one hole; and

a padlock adapted to be placed through said at least one hole of said tong end, such that said locking bar cannot be removed from said openings, and thereby prevents removal of said locking device from said shutter panel and said shutter panel from said building structure.

2. The universal locking device of claim 1, further comprising a center panel locking brace adapted to be fixedly attached to a center portion of said shutter panel, said center panel locking brace having an opening therethrough for receiving said locking bar, and adapted to hold said shutter panel to said locking bar.

3. The universal locking device of claim 2, wherein said end brackets are adapted to be connected to said exterior wall of said building structure via mechanical fasteners;

and wherein said at least one V-shaped bracket and said center panel locking brace are adapted to be connected to said shutter panel via mechanical fasteners.

4. The universal locking device of claim 1, further comprising a center panel lock member, and a center brace member;

said center panel lock member and said center brace member are adapted to function in combination with one another and adapted to be attached to a center portion of said shutter panel; and

wherein each of said center panel lock member and said center brace member has an opening therein for receiving said locking bar for holding said shutter panel to said locking bar.

5. The universal locking device of claim 1, wherein said at least one V-shaped bracket comprises two said V-shaped brackets each adapted to fit within and attach to a respective corrugation of said corrugated hurricane shutter panel.

6. The universal locking device of claim 1, wherein each of said end brackets is L-shaped to provide a flat surface adapted to be placed flush against a flat surface of said building structure on a respective one of the opposite sides of the opening therein, and wherein said opening of each said L-shaped bracket extends perpendicularly to said flat surface of said L-shaped bracket.

7. The universal locking device of claim 1, wherein each said at least one V-shaped bracket includes a flat center portion with said two angled portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said flat center portion at equal angles thereto.

8. The universal locking device of claim 1, further comprising keeper members attached to said two end brackets and adapted to be attached to said shutter panel.

9. The universal locking device of claim 1, further comprising an extension bar, an extension brace, and a plurality of nuts and bolts;

and wherein said locking bar, said extension bar, and said extension brace respectively include a plurality of corresponding holes along the lengths thereof, such that an effective length of said locking bar can be extended when said extension bar and said extension brace are connected to said locking bar via said nuts and bolts.

10. The universal locking device of claim 1, wherein said end brackets, said at least one V-shaped bracket, and said locking bar are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, plastic, and polycarbonate plastics.

11. A hurricane shutter assembly, said assembly comprising an upper track member adapted to be secured to a building structure adjacent an upper edge of an opening in the building structure;

at least one corrugated hurricane shutter panel removably attached to said upper track member and adapted to cover said building structure opening and overlap side edges of said opening; and

a universal locking device comprising two end brackets adapted to be attached to said building structure adjacent the side edges of said opening, each said end bracket having an opening therethrough;

at least one V-shaped bracket adapted to fit within and attach to respective corrugation of said corrugated hurricane shutter panel, each said at least one V-shaped bracket having openings extending through two angled portions of said at least one V-shaped bracket; and

an elongated locking bar adapted to pass through said openings of said two end brackets and said openings of said at least one V-shaped bracket, and having a distal end and an opposite tong end, wherein said distal end having a stop portion thereon, and said tong end having at least one hole; and

a padlock adapted to be placed through said at least one hole of said tong end, such that said locking bar cannot be removed from said openings, and thereby prevents removal of said locking device from said shutter panel and said shutter panel from said building structure.

12. The shutter assembly of claim 11, further comprising a center panel locking brace configured to be fixedly attached to a center portion of said hurricane shutter panel, said center panel locking brace having an opening therethrough for receiving said locking bar, and adapted to hold said hurricane shutter panel to said locking bar.

13. The shutter assembly of claim 12, wherein said end brackets are adapted to be connected to said building structure via mechanical fasteners;

and wherein said at least one V-shaped bracket and said center panel locking brace are configured to be connected to said hurricane shutter panel via mechanical fasteners.

14. The shutter assembly device of claim 11, further comprising a center panel lock member, and a center brace member;

said center panel lock member and said center brace member are adapted to function in combination with one another and configured to be attached to a center portion of said hurricane shutter panel; and

wherein each of said center panel lock member and said center brace member has an opening therein for receiving said locking bar for holding said hurricane shutter panel to said locking bar.

15. The shutter assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one V-shaped bracket comprises two said V-shaped brackets each adapted to fit within and attach to a respective corrugation of said corrugated hurricane shutter panel.

16. The shutter assembly of claim 11, wherein each of said end brackets is L-shaped to provide a flat surface adapted to be placed flush against a flat surface of said building structure adjacent the side edges of the opening therein, and wherein said opening of each said L-shaped bracket is extends perpendicularly to said flat surface of said L-shaped bracket.

17. The shutter assembly of claim 11, wherein each said at least one V-shaped bracket includes a flat center portion with said two angled portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said flat center portion at equal angles thereto.

18. The shutter assembly of claim 11, further comprising keeper members attached to said two end brackets and adapted to be attached to said shutter panel.

19. The shutter assembly of claim 11, further comprising an extension bar, an extension brace, and a plurality of nuts and bolts;

and wherein said locking bar, said extension bar, and said extension brace respectively include a plurality of corresponding holes along the lengths thereof, such that an effective length of said locking bar can be extended when said extension bar and said extension brace are connected to said locking bar via said nuts and bolts.

20. The shutter assembly of claim 11, wherein said end brackets, said at least one V-shaped bracket, and said locking bar are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, plastic, and polycarbonate plastics.